Fastening for crates, &amp;c.



No. 671,901. 7 Patented Apr. 9, l90l. J. W. THOMAS &. C. R. GALLION.

FASTENING FOR CRATES, 8w.

(Application filed Mar. 13, 1900. Renewed Dec. 3, 1900.)

(No Model.)

ig- 6 y-= Ill I"||||"IIIIPIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII j z n UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. THOMAS AND CHARLES R. GALLION, OF HODGENSVILLE, KENTUCKY.

FASTENING FOR GRATES, 840.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 671,901 dated April 9, 1901.

Application fil d March 13, 1900. Renewed December 3, 1900. Serial No. 38,562. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JAMES W. THOMAS and CHARLES R. GALLION, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Hodgensville, in the county of Larue and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fastenings for Crates or other Receptacles, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to an improvement in fastenings for crates or other receptacles; and it consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts,which will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are opposite end views, and Figs. 3 and 4 are details.

A represents a crate, box, or other receptacle of any approved construction. Across each end a cleat 1 is fastened, and these cleats are provided with vertical recesses 2 2. B indicates the lid or cover, which also has a pair of cleats 3 3 secured to the lower side thereof at the ends, and these in like manner are provided with vertical recesses 4 4, these recesses not being quite so deep as those in the cleats on the crate. Hinged to the cover at the opposite ends thereof are two loops 5 and 6, respectively, they being held in sockets formed between the lid or cover and the cleats 3 3. Loop 5 extends through the vertical recesses in cleats 1 and 3 at the end where it is located and is adapted to receive the hook 7 on the crate. Loop 6 at the other end is bent slightly out of a straight line and is provided with a rounded ofiset portion 8, which forms shoulders 9 9 between it and the sides of the loop. On the corresponding end of the crate or box a rounded projection 10 is formed, it being preferably in the form of a casting, the base-plate of which is held in place by screws, nails, or rivets, and the rounded offset portion of the loop is adapted to embrace this rounded projection. A central stop 11 is formed vertically on this projection, and catches 12 12 are pivoted thereon, they being adapted to swing upwardly to receive the loop upon the projection and then downwardly across the shoulders upon the ofiset portion to retain the loop in position, the shoulders i serving to prevent accidental displacement of these catches.

To guard against unauthorized tampering with the lock, we propose to attach a seal, and this may be done, as shown, by forming a hole 15 through stop 11 and running the wire of the seal through it, after which it is bent together and secured by twisting the ends together or in other convenient way.

From the foregoing the operation will be readily understood. The loops by entering the vertical recesses in the cleats prevent lateral vibrations or movement of the lid or cover with respect to the crate or box. The fact that these loops are pivoted affords variety in attaching the lid or cover or in detaching it, and the shoulders on loop 6 prevent accidental unfastening, and by the provision of two catches the danger of accidental unfastening is greatly lessened, as the displacement of one catch would not likely be followed by the displacement of the other. To fasten the lid or cover upon the box or crate, the catches are turned upward against the central stop, loop 5 is caught under the hook at the corresponding end of the crate or box, and loop 6 is slipped on the rounded projection on the other end, after which the catches are swung around from the shoulders across the offset portion, from which they are prevented from displacement, owing to the tendency of the loop to spring upwardly when unhindered, causing the shoulders to assume a path which the catches would naturally take. To unfasten, the reverse of this operation is followed.

This crate or box can be used for packing eggs or any other commodity, and the fastening device could be applied to any kind of receptacle having a removable or hinged lid or cover.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of ourinvention, and

hence we do not wish to limit ourselves to the exact construction herein set forth; but,

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a receptacle and a lid or cover, ofva loop having an ofiset portion and shoulders adjacent thereon and catches adapted to swing across the offset portion and be prevented from accidental displacement by said shoulders.

2. The combination with a box having a hook on one end and a rounded projection on the other, said projection provided Withacentral stop and a pair of pivoted catches on either side of the stop, of a lid or cover having loops at each end, one adapted to fasten beneath the hook on the'corresponding end of the receptacle and the other loop having shoulders formed thereon which constitute stops for the catches on the receptacle.

3. The combination with a receptacle having transverse recessed cleats on opposite surfaces thereof and a hook and mounted pro- 

